Do I have to have phone service?

Do I have to have phone service?

Let me start by saying I live in the absolute middle of nowhere Alaska with no cell service,and none in the near or distant future.I have good satellite internet.I have a need for the ability to run apps on a small mobile device.
Can an Android be used without a monthly fee,like an old PDA?If so can the apps be downloaded to the phone with just my wireless router hooked to the internet.
Thanks in advance Rob

Re: Do I have to have phone service?

Better off getting a Wi-Fi only tablet. No, you don't pay to use apps, however there is for-pay apps but you just pay once and you own them. That said, there is thousands of free apps available as well.

Re: Do I have to have phone service?

Thanks for the info.The two apps I need to use are ones you have to buy.This will be used to run a Ballistics calculator for hunting so the smaller the better,I think a tablet would be way to big,needs to fit in shirt pocket.

Re: Do I have to have phone service?

Back to your original question, yes you can run apps on an Android phone without needing to get service from a provider. I have a few old Android phone i use around the house. None even have Sim card in them. I use it for wifi callings and texts plus games. So long as the apps does not need data out in the field you should have no problems at all.

Re: Do I have to have phone service?

THANK YOU baseballfanz!!!!!You answered my initial question.(finally)

It is quite a bit cheaper for me to buy a prepaid Android phone and never activate it,than it is to buy a phone sized tablet,not to mention that if I should need a cell phone(about once a year I go to Cincinnati to visit the family).I would just need to buy minutes.

Please remember I live 100% off grid,so any device I purchase will be bought online.So that in mind I just want to make sure that if I buy a smart phone that it will work like a lap top(charge it up,turn it on,sync it to my wifi,download apps,run apps)all without any fees other than the purchase price of the device,and the purchase price of the app?